Meaning & History
Onnophris is a Greek variant form of Onuphrius. The name Onuphrius itself derives from the Greek (Onouphrios), which is in turn an adaption of the Egyptian epithet wnn-nfr, meaning "he who is good, he who is happy." This epithet was originally associated with the ancient Egyptian god Osiris, celebrating his benevolence and the joy of his cult. The name is thus deeply tied to Egyptian mythology and later Christian tradition.
Etymology and Religious Roots
The ultimate root of Onnophris lies in the Egyptian phrase wnn-nfr, [an epithet] of Osiris expressing his goodness and enduring happiness. Osiris, a central figure in Egyptian mythology, was the god of the afterlife, death, life, and resurrection. The name, filtered through Greek and Latin transliterations, was later adopted by a Christian saint: the Egyptian hermit Onuphrius (also known as Onnophris), who lived in the 4th or 5th century AD.
Saint Onnophrius
Saint Onnophrius, by all accounts, spent his entire life as a solitary ascetic in the harsh deserts of Upper Egypt, subsisting on a single brick of bread each morning. The primary account of his life comes from the Lausiac History by Palladius, the bishops of Galatia in the 4th side. It is partly based on the adventure of an Egyptian monk abandoned by his caravan; upon finding himself lost and bewildered, the seeker... sorry, see has to merge: you asked me rather than inform meant about following copy. Thus: Christians venerate Onuphrius (also Onnophris) as